The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-05-13
Surrender of the French Army
at Sedan.


eassoll's Illustrated History OF England.
The King OF Prussia, perceiviag
from the heights OF Frenois that Sc.
dan had been set on fire by the bonn
bardment, ordered 1t to cease, and
sent an officer OF his staff with a flag
OF truce toward the fortress. The Of
ficer learned on his way that the white
flag was hanging over the gate; he
therefore proceeded on his mission,
was admitted, and obtained an audi
ence of the Emperor. The envoy be-
gan to speak OF capitulation, but Ma
poleon answered that he could not
dispose OF the fate OF the army; on
that subject he must speak to General
Wimplfen, The Emperor desired to
surrender his own person into the
hands OF the King of Prussia, and
sent to the latter, by General
Reille, who accompanied the German
envoy on his return, a letter thus ex-
pressed" Monsieur, mon Frere,-
Nayant pas pn mourir au milieu de
mes troupes, il ne me reste au' Il remet-
tre mon epee ertre les mains de votre
Majestic lie bon frere, Napoleon. Trans
lation Sire my Brother,-Not hay
ing been able to die in the midst
of my troops nothing remains for me
but to put my sword in the hand OF
your Majesty" The King sent a cour-
teous reply, in which he prayed the
Emperor to nominate and officer OF
rank to negotiate with the officer
whom he had named on his side, Gen.
eral Moltke, for the,capitulations oft the
French army. Wimptfen understood
the sad and humiliating duty, and met
Motke at the Prussian Headquarters
in the village ofDodchery. The French
man tried hard to obtain terms that fell
short ofan unconditional surrender
But the logic OF facts was against him.
and Moltke, calm as iate, and cold as
thegrave, unfolded to him with pitiless
accuracy the full horror OF the situa-
ton. Taking down map he painted
out upon it the position of several
German corps, and OF their batteries;
and observed, that even if the French
army resolved upon trying once more
thecbance OF arms. it could not, coop
ed up as it was in Sedan, deploy into
line, except after issuing through the
gates-an operation which considering
the position of the German guns,
could only result in the useless butch
cry of brave men. Wimpffen argued
and protested but all to no purpose;
and Mo!t!so informed HIM that unless
thecapitulations We're concluded before
nine O'Clock next morning the German
guns would recommence their fire.
Nothing remained but to submit.
The terms of surrender were set
tied at 6 O'Clock on the morning OF
the I'd. OF September, and being rati.
fled by the King soon after came into
force. The French army became pris-
oners OF war, and all arms and ma.
terials of war, whether belonging to
the army or the fortress were to be
handed over by French to q German
Commission, the officers were to re-
tain their freedom, their arms and
their personal property onpiving their
word OF honor not TO serve against
Germany during the continuance OF
war. There were many officers, how
ever, who preferred the nobler part
OF sharing the captivity with the men
rather than renounce the right oil
/ bearing arms against Germany so long
us tire war lasted The wild excite.
ment, rage and grief which seized up.
on the soldiers, when they knew that
they We're to surrender their arms and
go into captivity, surpass the power
OF description. By patches OF about
% thousand at q time, they were trans
ported, during several days, by rail,
to Saarbrock, and thence to various
parts OF Germany.